Zweig based his assessment on
Buffett’s annual letters to shareholders. Zweig ranked Goldman and Harpaz No. 14
and No. 15 as possible Buffett successors. They are far below the
rankings of Ajit Jain, head of Berkshire’s reinsurance group, whom Buffett sited
102 times in his annual letters, and Geico CEO Tony Nicely, who was cited 60
times. Buffett has written more than 400,000 words in his annual letters since
1977.

Buffett, 81, last week announced that he had stage 1 prostate
cancer, the least malignant form of the disease, and that he would undergo
chemotherapy.

He was optimistic and said he would continue running
Berkshire Hathaway.

Nonetheless, the announcement raised concern about
the day after Buffett and who his successor would be.

He has already said
that Berkshire Hathaway’s board of directors has picked a successor, with two
alternatives if necessary, but he has declined to mention any names.